Celebrate the holidays at Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

Celebrate the holiday season by surrounding yourself with history at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown in Virginia.

Learn about the stories of real people and events of early America as they unfold in refreshed permanent exhibit galleries at Jamestown Settlement, as well as hands-on activities in outdoor recreations of a Powhatan Indian village, three 1607 ships, and a colonial fort.

Over at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, tales of citizens and soldiers will come to life through immersive gallery exhibits, films, and interactive experiences in outdoor recreations of a Continental Army encampment and Revolution-era farm.

Other highlights at the historical attraction include:

• “Tenacity: Women in Jamestown and Early Virginia” – The curtain will soon close on this special exhibition at Jamestown Settlement, as it will close on Jan. 5, 2020. Guests can discover the little-known personal stories of Powhatan Indian, English and African women, their troubles and determination through displays with more than 60 artifacts from 20 domestic and international lenders that tell the stories of real women making history in Virginia and beyond.

• “Christmastide in Virginia” – Get a glimpse of 17th- and 18th-century holiday traditions through interpretive programs and demonstrations. See the Lord of Misrule make daily appearances at Jamestown Settlement, enjoy houses adorned with winter greenery, and listen to period musical entertainment at both museums.

• “Forgotten Soldier” – This special exhibition at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown shares personal accounts of enslaved and free African Americans on both sides of war. Guests can see rare documents, artifacts, and compelling art, including a new work by nationally acclaimed artist Titus Kaphar, whose work invites guests to look at history in a new light to contemplate those soldiers looked over in historical accounts.

• 1619 Minutes of the First General Assembly Exhibit – Thanks to The National Archives, U.K., the original minutes of the first legislative assembly that gathered on July 30, 1619 are on display at Jamestown Settlement through March 22, 2020. On loan in America for the first time in 400 years since penned by Speaker John Pory at Jamestown, these rare pages of the original minutes list the names of the Burgesses and document the proceedings of the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere.

The museums’ hours of operation are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily, but both are closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission to Jamestown Settlement is $17.50 for adults and $8.25 for children ages 6-12. Admission to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown is $15 for adults and $7.50 for children ages 6-12; however, in 2020, that price will go up to $15.25 for adults and $7.75 for children.

To learn more about Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, visit HistoryIsFun.org.